Ornamental spray head assembly for obtaining various flow patterns

ABSTRACT

An ornamental spray head assembly is disclosed for obtaining a variety of different flow patterns. The spray head assembly comprises a plurality of compartments each in communication with different spray orifices and means are provided for sequentially and cumulatively providing fluid communication between the compartments to obtain various flow patterns. The spray orifices are located in a spray head which is manually rotated to obtain the desired flow pattern.

United States Patent [72 I lnvcntor Christian Ragot [56] References Cited 5, Rue Bouvaist F.70, Vesoul, France i NO 331 32 1,508,873 9/1924 Caldwell 239/563X y 1,983,634 12/1934 Nichols 239/539X [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [32] Priority July 24,1967 3,307,787 3/1967 HalLJr. 239/17 [33] France Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. [3 l 115392 Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar

Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato [5 4] FOR ABSTRACT: An ornamental spray head assembly is disclosed 8 Cl 8 D for obtaining a variety of different flow patterns. The spray rawmg head assembly comprises a plurality of compartments each in [52] US. Cl 239/17, communication with different spray orifices and means are 239/539,239/563,239/58l provided for sequentially and cumulatively providing fluid [51] Int. Cl B05b 17/08 communication between the compartments to obtain various [50] Field of Search 239/16 17, flow patterns. The spray orifices are located in a spray head which is manually rotated to obtain the desired flow pattern.

ORNAMENTAL SPRAY HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR OBTAINING VARIOUS FLOW PATTERNS Known water-jet head assemblies for use in gardens and ornamental lakes have certain drawbacks.

The most prominent of these is the impossibility to obtain different configurations or forms of water jet from a single head assembly. In effect, the only possible adjustment in known nozzles is the variation of pressure. By increasing or decreasing the pressure, the power of the jet, but not its configuration which is determined by the number of pipes or holes in the nozzle, is varied.

Thus the only existing way of providing a variety of jet shapes is to use side by side several jets with a separate adjustment and thus separate water supply.

Consequently, it is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable water jet assembly head allowing a wide variation in the shape of the water jet issuing therefrom by means of simple adjustment.

Accordingly, the invention is concerned with a water jet head assembly comprising a hollow body a, water supply entry in the body, a head, the head being movably adjustable in relation to the body and having a plurality of holes therein for the outflow of water jets, and means disposed inside the body so that adjustment of the head relative to the body controls through which holes waters jets emerge.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following description of embodiments made by way of example and to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 50, b, 5c and 5d show various forms of water jets available from a single embodiment of the invention, for example that shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the water jet head assembly consists of a frustoconical body I terminating at its lower or entry end with an internal thread 2 adapted to receive a water supply pipe (not shown). The supply pipe can include a valve and/or regulating means, for example a tap. At its upper end body I is provided with an external thread 3 upon which is screwed an orificed spring head 4 furnished with holes 5, 5 'and 5".

These holes are disposed so that the single hole 5 is surrounded concentrically by pluralities of holes 5 and 5". Naturally, any other pattern could be used. Each of the pluralities of holes 5' and 5" as well as the central hole 5 is in constant communication with a compartment within the body I.

On FIG. 2 it can be seen that the holes 5 and5" are inclined with respect to hole 5 which is aligned with the axis of the cone of body I. The alignment of these holes determines in normal fashion the direction of each individual jet of water issuing therefrom. The holes can be complemented by the provision of countersunk pipes.

A tube 6 extends along the'axis of body I from the vicinity of the thread 2 and is fixed to the spray head 4 around the central hole 5. The interior of the tube 6 defines a compartment in constant fluid communication with the hold 5. The position of this tube allows supply of water to hole 5, as indicated by arrow 7 while allowing a part of the liquid to be directed to the space 9 between the tube 6 and the conical body I as indicated by arrows 8.

An annular laterally extending projection 10 is placed on the tube 6 at its lower end. The dimensions of the projection 10 are such that by screwing the spray head 4 onto the body I the projection can be brought into contact with the internal surface of the body I so that by screwing up or unscrewing the spray head 4, the supply of water into the space 9 can be regulated.

When liquid is admitted into the space 9, it flows through holes I I in a second laterally extending projection 12 which is also carried by the tube 6 the projection I2 enters a compartment situated between the tube or pipe 6 and a second concentric tube I3 fixed to the spray head 4 between the pluralities of orifices 5' and 5". Liquid is thus permitted to pass through the holes 5' forming a series of further jets. It should be noted that the orifices 5 are in constant fluid communication with the interior of the pipe or tube 13.

By further unscrewing the spray head 4, projection 12 becomes separated from the body I so that liquid thus enters a compartment I4 situated between the tube 13 and the body I thus arriving at holes 5". Of course, the projection I2 could be replaced by a similar annular member fixed at the bottom of the tube 13. The tube 6, the pipe I3 and the lateral projections 10 and 12 are all integral with the spray head 4 and are moved translationally with respect to the body I in response to rotation of the spray head 4. As the spray head 4 is manually rotated, the various compartments are sequentially and cumulatively interconnected along with the orifices 5, 5' and 5" to yield the flow patterns depicted in FIG. 5a-5d.

It can thus be seen that by unscrewing the spray head 4, firstly only a single water jet is obtained (FIG. 511), then another water jet through the holes 5 (FIG. 5b) which increases in height (FIG. 5c) until a waterjet through the holes 5" also appears (FIG. 5d). The height of these different water jets is entirely adjustable and for this purpose, an input adjustment control can be incorportated into the spray head assembly.

Of course, many variants of the spray head assembly according to the present invention are possible without greatly changing the system of projections. The frustoconical body I can be replaced by a body the interior of which consists of a certain number of cylindrical surfaces of increasing diameter in stair formation and cooperating with the respective projections.

The rotational movement of the head 4 can also be replaced by a simple translational or axial movement and the position of the tubes 6 and I3 can be varied-for example they need not be concentric and the complete assembly may or may not be symmetrical.

With reference to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4, the projections such as I0 and I2 and the tubes 6 and 13 terminate in annular chambers 15 and 16 having a base portion which consists of a partition 17. This partition 17 is provided with openings I8 and 19 of varied length. The holes 5, 5 and 5" are in constant communication with compartments defined by the interior of the central tube, the chamber 15, and the chamber 16. respectively and these compartments are sequentially and cumulatively provided with pressurized fluid in response to rotation of the spray head to obtain the various flow patterns shown in FIGS. 5a5d.

By turning the spray head 4 the partition 17 is also turned with respect to a partition 20 below which water is admitted. Partition 20 is provided with openings 21 and 22 situated under the trajectories of the openings 18 and 19.

Rotation of the head 4 allows the openings 18 and 21, 19 and 22, respectively, to be e sequentially and cumulatively brought into registry or alignment with one another which allows a flow of liquid and regulation thereof. By angularly displacing the openings 19 and 22, the water jets from the holes 5" can be selectively controlled and likewise the angular displacement of openings the 18 and 21 controls the water jets fromthe holes 5'.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with particular embodiments thereof, of course it is not limited to these embodiments but can include all modifications of shape and disposition without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

I. An ornamental spray head assembly comprising: a hollow body; means in the body connectable to a water supply; a movably mounted spray head having a plurality of holes therein for the outflow of water jets; means mounting said spray head for movement relative to said body; and means disposed inside the body for controlling through which holes water can flow in response to movement of said spray head comprising a pipe fixed centrally in said body having one end in fluid communication with said water supply and the other end in fluid communication with said water supply and the other end in fluid communication with one of said holes, a tube having a wider diameter than said pipe attached to said spray head. an wherein at least one hole in said spray head is located between said pipe and tube and at least one other hole in said spray head is positioned outside said tube.

2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lateral projection is fixed to said tube.

3. Assembly as claimed in claim 2; wherein another lateral projection is fixed to said tube; means defining at least one aperture in said another lateral projection and wherein adjustment of said spray head controls the water flow to the holes outside of said tube by controlling the abutment or nonabutment of said lateral projections against the walls of said body.

4. Am assembly as claimed in claim 2; wherein another projection is fixed to said body; means defining apertures in both said projections movable into and out of overlapping relationship in response to adjustment of said spray head to control the supply of water to the holes outside of said tube.

5. An ornamental spray head assembly comprising; a hollow body; means on said body connectable to a source of pressurized fluid; a movably mounted spray head having a plurality of orifices therein; means defining a plurality of individual compartments within said body each in constant fluid communication with respective ones of said orifices; and means mounting said spray head for manual movement relative to said body to sequentially and cumulatively provide fluid communication between said compartments in response to manual movement of said spray head to selectively provide different spray patterns through said spray head.

6. An assembly according to claim 5; wherein each of said compartments includes a wall portion integral with said spray head.

7. An assembly according to claim 6; wherein said last-mentioned means includes means mounting said spray head for rotational movement relative to said body to effect rotational movement ot'said wall portions accompanied by sequential an cumulative fluid communications between said eompartments.

8. An assembly according to claim 6; wherein said last-mentioned means includes means mounting said spray head for rotational movement relative to said' body to effect transla tional movement of said wall portions accompanied by sequential and cumulative fluid communication between said compartments. 

1. An ornamental spray head assembly comprising: a hollow body; means in the body connectable to a water supply; a movably mounted spray head having a plurality of holes therein for the outflow of water jets; means mounting said spray head for movement relative to said body; and means disposed inside the body for controlling through which holes water can flow in response to movement of said spray head comprising a pipe fixed centrally in said body having one end in fluid communication with said water supply and the other end in fluid communication with said water supply and the other end in fluid communication with one of said holes, a tube having a wider diameter than said pipe attached to said spray head, an wherein at least one hole in said spray head is located between said pipe and tube and at least one other hole in said spray head is positioned outside said tube.
 2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lateral projection is fixed to said tube.
 3. Assembly as claimed in claim 2; wherein another lateral projection is fixed to said tube; means defining at least one aperture in said another lateral projection and wherein adjustment of said spray head controls the water flow to the holes outside of said tube by controlling the abutment or nonabutment of said lateral projections against the walls of said body.
 4. Am assembly as claimed in claim 2; wherein another projection is fixed to said body; means defining apertures in both said projections movable into and out of overlapping relationship in response to adjustment of said spray head to control the supply of water to the holes outside of said tube.
 5. An ornamental spray head assembly comprising; a hollow body; means on said body connectable to a source of pressurized fluid; a movably mounted spray head having a plurality of orifices therein; means defining a plurality of individual compartments within said body each in constant fluid communication with respective ones of said orifices; and means mounting said spray head for manual movement relative to said body to sequentially and cumulatively provide fluid communication between said compartments in response to manual movement of said spray head to selectively provide different spray patterns through said spray head.
 6. An assembly according to claim 5; wherein each of said compartments includes a wall portion integral with said spray head.
 7. An assembly according to claim 6; wherein said last-mentioned means includes means mounting said spray head for rotational movement relative to said body to effect rotational movement of said wall portions accompanied by sequential an cumulative fluid communications between said compartments.
 8. An assembly according to claim 6; wherein said last-mentioned means includes means mounting said spray head for rotational movement relative to said body to effect translational movement of said wall portions accompanied by sequential and cumulative fluid communication between said compartments. 